European Goldfinch vs Black-chinned Siskin
Carduelis carduelis compared with Spinus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | European Goldfinch | Black-chinned Siskin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Carduelis carduelis | Spinus barbatus |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae | Fringillidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 13.0 cm (5.1 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 23.0 cm (9.1 in) | 14.4 cm (5.7 in) |
| Weight | 16.0 g (0.56 oz) | 16.46666666666667 g (0.58 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, especially thistle (Carduus) and teasel seeds, extracted with its precise tweezer-like bill. Also takes … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 3-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
European Goldfinch only
Black-chinned Siskin only
None
European Goldfinch
Open woodland, orchards, gardens, parks, and weedy fields with seed-bearing plants. Common at garden bird feeders.
Song & Call Comparison
European Goldfinch
A liquid, tinkling 'swit-swit-swit' in flight and a melodic twittering song. Flocks produce a bright jingling chorus. Male song is a sweet repetitive warble incorporating the flight call.
Black-chinned Siskin
Geographic Range & Migration
European Goldfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America.
Black-chinned Siskin
Conservation Status
European Goldfinch
Black-chinned Siskin
How to Tell Them Apart
European Goldfinch
Crimson red face with white cheeks and a black crown. Sandy-brown back with a bright yellow wing bar visible in flight. Black and white tail.
Slender, pointed, ivory-pink bill adapted for extracting seeds from thistles
Black-chinned Siskin
About These Birds
European Goldfinch
The European goldfinch is a strikingly beautiful finch whose tinkling song and colorful plumage have made it popular in art and as a caged bird for centuries. It appears frequently in Renaissance paintings as a symbol of the Passion of Christ. Flocks of goldfinches are charmingly called a charm.
Black-chinned Siskin
The Black-chinned Siskin is a small, attractive finch of open woodland, scrub, and montane slopes in Chile and Argentina, with males showing a black chin and cap contrasting with yellow-green underparts and grey wings with yellow wingbars. It inhabits open forests, scrubby hillsides, and cultivated areas with trees. It feeds primarily on seeds from conifers, native shrubs, and weeds.